NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University baseball team kept its postseason hopes alive in emphatic fashion on Saturday afternoon, sweeping a crucial Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Senior Day doubleheader from New England College on Garrity Field by scores of 6-1 and 15-13.
The pair of victories secured a GNAC Tournament berth for the Cadets, who closed conference play with one of their most important days of the spring. Norwich combined for 30 hits across the twin bill, received a complete-game gem from
Carson Rath (Glens Falls, N.Y.) in the opener, and answered multiple New England College rallies in the nightcap to complete the sweep.
Prior to game one, Norwich honored eight seniors, including
Nathan Abbott (Durham, Maine),
Geffen Franus (Leesburg, Va.),
Jack Medhurst (Thousand Oaks, Calif.),
Trevor Lussier (Lyndonville, Vt.),
John O'Connor (Southington, Conn.),
Kevin Ohlsen (Shirley, N.Y.),
Isaac Parker (Jay, Maine), and
Michael Sabasteanski (Ashburn, Va.), for their dedication, passion, and commitment to the baseball program.
Game 1: Norwich 6, New England College 1
Norwich struck first in the opening inning when Franus came around to score on an RBI double to center by Lussier.
The Cadets added two more in the second.
Alex DeTomasis (East Greenwich, R.I.) and
Domenic Swaine (Leominster, Mass.) both crossed the plate on a two-run single to center from Medhurst, stretching the lead to 3-0.
New England College got one back in the fourth on an RBI double, but Norwich answered immediately in the home half. Ohlsen came home on a Pilgrim error to restore the three-run cushion.
The Cadets continued to create separation in the sixth. Medhurst worked a bases-loaded walk to force in Swaine, and Franus followed with a sacrifice fly to center that brought home DeTomasis and pushed the advantage to 6-1.
That was more than enough support for Rath, who turned in one of his strongest outings of the year. The senior right-hander tossed a complete game, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out 11 over seven innings.
Medhurst led the Norwich offense in the opener, going 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a walk. Lussier added two hits, including a run-scoring double, while Swaine scored twice. DeTomasis and Ohlsen each crossed the plate twice as part of a 12-hit effort.
Game 2: Norwich 15, New England College 13
The nightcap featured far more drama, but Norwich again wasted little time establishing control.
New England College opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first, but the Cadets answered with five in the bottom half. Lussier ripped a two-run double to left to score Franus and Medhurst, Sabasteanski followed with an RBI single, DeTomasis drew a bases-loaded walk, and Ohlsen added a sacrifice fly to cap the surge.
After the Pilgrims scored once in the fourth, Norwich responded with another five-run inning. Franus drove in Medhurst on a groundout, O'Connor laced a two-run triple to center, Ringer followed with an RBI single through the left side, and DeTomasis added another run-scoring single to make it 10-2. Ohlsen then brought home Swaine with a sacrifice bunt to give the Cadets an 11-2 lead.
New England College mounted its biggest push in the fifth and sixth innings, scoring seven runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to suddenly pull within 13-12. The Pilgrims later tied the game at 13-13 in the seventh on an unearned run, but Norwich did not let the momentum slip away.
The Cadets reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the seventh when DeTomasis lifted a sacrifice fly to right, allowing O'Connor to score and putting Norwich back in front, 14-13. Norwich then added a valuable insurance run in the eighth, as Lussier sent a sacrifice fly to right that plated Franus for the final margin.
Bryson Bush (Leonard, Texas) proved critical out of the bullpen, earning his first collegiate victory after allowing just one unearned run over four innings while striking out three.
Norwich piled up 18 hits in the game, with Sabasteanski going 4-for-6 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Medhurst finished 3-for-6 with two runs scored, O'Connor went 3-for-5 with a triple, double, and three RBIs, while Franus added two hits and three runs scored. Lussier drove in three, Ringer had two hits and an RBI, and DeTomasis added three RBIs of his own.
The sweep marked a critical finish to the GNAC regular season for Norwich, which officially clinched a spot in the conference tournament with Saturday's results.
The Cadets will return to action on Wednesday, Apr. 29, traveling to Vermont State University Lyndon for a 3:00 p.m. non-conference game. Norwich will then turn its attention to the GNAC Tournament, which begins Thursday, Apr. 30, at a location to be determined.
